OLYMPIA The Legislature gave Washington State University the authority to start its own medical school in Spokane this morning as the Senate gave final approval to a bill that repeals a 1917 statute that gave University of Washington the sole rights to a state-sponsored medical school.

In a 47-1 vote, the Senate sent to Gov. Jay Inslee the House version of a bill that says both schools can operate a medical school. But no money is attached to that legislation. The approval was not in doubt as both chambers had passed separate versions of the same bill by large margins

You have viewed 20 free articles or blogs allowed within a 30-day period. FREE registration is now required for uninterrupted access.

S-R Media, The Spokesman-Review and Spokesman.com are happy to assist you. Contact Customer Service by email or call 800-338-8801

OLYMPIA The Legislature gave Washington State University the authority to start its own medical school in Spokane this morning as the Senate gave final approval to a bill that repeals a 1917 statute that gave University of Washington the sole rights to a state-sponsored medical school.

In a 47-1 vote, the Senate sent to Gov. Jay Inslee the House version of a bill that says both schools can operate a medical school. But no money is attached to that legislation. The approval was not in doubt as both chambers had passed separate versions of the same bill by large margins earlier this month.

Thank you for your confidence and trust in WSU, President Elson Floyd, who watched the debate from the Senate gallery, told legislators who gathered after the passage in Majority Leader Mark Schoeslers office for a celebration. We will deliver.

A decision on WSUs request for $2.5 million to seek accreditation and hire faculty for a medical school on its Spokane campus will be made separately in the 2015-17 budget. Inslees initial budget proposal has no money for that program, or for UWs program on the WSU-Spokane campus, which is part of the established medical schools five-state consortium known as WWAMI for the first letters of the states involved: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

House Democrats are scheduled to release their proposal for the operating budget on Friday, which will give the two schools an indication of what type of financial support they will give expanded medical education in Spokane, where UW also has plans to increase the number of students it trains.

WWAMI has 40 first-year students and nine second-year students in Spokane and until last fall the two universities worked together on that program. When WSU announced plans to start its own medical school, UW officials broke off the partnership and began discussing a new arrangement with Gonzaga University just across the Spokane River from the current location.

Here is the original post:

Legislature clears way for WSU medical school - Wed, 25 Mar 2015 PST